The Natural History of Selborne

Mr Churton, who was this week on a visit at Waverley, took the opportunity of examining some of the holes in the sand-banks with which that district abounds.  As these are undoubtedly bored by bank-martins, & are the places where they avowedly breed, he was in hopes they might have slept there also, & that he might have surprised them just as they were awakening from their winter slumbers.  When he had dug for some time he found the holes were horizontal & serpentine, as I had observed before; & that the nests were deposited at the inner end, & had been occupied by broods in former summers: but no torpid birds were to be found.  He opened & examined about a dozen holes.  Mr Peter Collinson made the same search many years ago, with as little success.  These holes were in depth about two feet.

On the 27th of February 1788, Stone-curlews were heard to pipe; & on March 1st, after it was dark some were passing over the village, as might be perceived by their quick, short note, which they use in their nocturnal excursions by way of watch-word, that they may not stray, & lose their companions.  Thus we see, that retire whithersoever they may in the winter, they return again early in the spring, & are, as it now appears, the first summer birds that come back. The smallest uncrested wren has been deemed the earliest migrater, but it is never heard ’till about the 20th of March.  Perhaps the mildness of the season may have quickened the emigration of the curlews this year.  They spend the day in high elevated fields & sheep-walks: but seem to descend in the night to streams & meadows, perhaps for water which their upland haunts do not afford them.

Young squab red-breasts were found this day in a nest built in a hollow tree.

Violent hail-storm, which filled the gutter, & came in & flooded the stair-case; & came down the chinmies & wetted the floors.

The wheat-ear, a bird so called, returns & appears on Selborne down.

Sowed the border opposite the rear parlor-windows with dwarf upright larkspurs; a fine sort.

The hot-bed streams very much; but the plants thrive, & put out their roots down the sides of the hills; & the weeds spring in the bed.  Yet a little neglect, should there come hot sun-shine, would burn the plants.  Holes are bored on every side in the dung.

The sun mounts & looks down on the hanger.  The air is milder.

Earthed the bearing cucumber-bed.  The bed comes gently to its heat.

A squirrel in my hedges.